Retractable fluid collection device

Abstract

Retractable medical device including a body having an open back end and a front end. A movable member is arranged within the body. The movable member has a back end and a front end. A needle holding member is arranged in an area of the front end of the movable member. A spring is structured and arranged to move the needle holding member to a retracted position within the movable member when the movable member experiences at least one of: the front end of the movable member is caused to expand generally radially; the back end of the movable member is caused to contract generally radially; the front end of the movable member is caused to expand generally radially when the back end of the movable member is caused to contract generally radially; and axial movement caused by a cap closing off the back end of the body which engages a tapered surface of the back end of the movable member. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A retractable medical device comprising:
 a body having and a back end that is at least one of open and sized and configured to receive therein a receptacle; 
 a movable member arranged within the body, the movable member having a back end and a front end; 
 a needle holding member arranged in an area of the front end of the movable member; and 
 a spring structured and arranged to move the needle holding member to a retracted position within the movable member when the movable member experiences at least one of:
 the front end of the movable member is caused to expand generally radially; 
 the back end of the movable member is caused to contract generally radially; 
 the front end of the movable member is caused to expand generally radially when the back end of the movable member is caused to contract generally radially; 
 axial movement caused by a cap closing off the back end of the body, wherein, during the closing off of the back end of the body, a tapered surface of the back end of the movable member is contacted by a portion of the cap; 
 circumferential portions of the front end of the movable member are caused to expand outwardly or generally radially so as to allow the needle holding member to disengage from the front end of the movable member; and 
 portions of the front end of the movable member separated by slots are caused to expand outwardly or generally radially so as to allow the needle holding member to disengage from the front end of the movable member. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the body and the movable members are at least one of generally cylindrical and generally tubular. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the movable member is sized and configured to at least partially receive therein the receptacle and the receptacle is one of a fluid collection tube and an evacuated blood collection receptacle. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein an outer peripheral surface of the needle holding member frictionally engages with an inner surface of the front end of the movable member. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein an outer peripheral surface of the needle holding member comprises at least one projection which engages with at least one recess arranged on an inner surface of the front end of the movable member. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , wherein an outer peripheral surface of the needle holding member comprises at least one recess which engages with at least one projection arranged on an inner surface of the front end of the movable member. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a device arranged within the body for limiting axial movement of the movable member within the body. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap structure and arranged to close off a back end of the body. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap connected by a living hinge to the body. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap having a portion which contacts the back end of the movable member. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap having tapered surfaces which contact tapered surfaces of the back end of the movable member. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap structured and arranged to lock to the back end of the body. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap structured and arranged to cause the needle holding member to move to the retracted position by the spring when the cap is locked to the body. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap structured and arranged to cause the needle holding member to move to the retracted position by the spring when the cap closes off the back end of the body. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap structured and arranged to cause the needle holding member to move to the retracted position by the spring when the cap engages with a back end of the movable member. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the movable member comprises an internal surface which limits retraction movement of the needle holding member. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the movable member comprises an internal annular surface which limits retraction movement of the needle holding member. 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the needle holding member is structured and arranged to support a double-ended needle. 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the needle holding member is structured and arranged to retain a removable double-ended needle. 
     
     
       20. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap having an outer rim larger than an opening in the back of the body and an inner rim comprising at least one protrusion structured and arranged to engage with the back end of the movable member. 
     
     
       21. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap having an outer rim larger than an opening in the back of the body and at least two oppositely arranged protrusions structured and arranged to engage with the back end of the movable member. 
     
     
       22. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap having an outer rim larger than an opening in the back of the body and at least two oppositely arranged tapered protrusions structured and arranged to engage with tapered surfaces of the back end of the movable member. 
     
     
       23. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the movable member comprises oppositely arranged elongated slots extending to the front end of the movable member, whereby a width of the elongated slots changes when the needle holding member is caused to move to the retracted position. 
     
     
       24. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the movable member comprises oppositely arranged elongated slots extending to the back end of the movable member, whereby a width of the elongated slots changes when the needle holding member is caused to move to the retracted position. 
     
     
       25. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the movable member comprises oppositely arranged first elongated slots extending to the front end of the movable member and oppositely arranged second elongated slots extending to the back end of the movable member, whereby a width of the elongated first and second slots changes when the needle holding member is caused to move to the retracted position. 
     
     
       26. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the movable member comprises first elongated slots extending to the front end of the movable member and second elongated slots extending to the back end of the movable member, whereby a width of the elongated first and second slots changes when the needle holding member is caused to move to the retracted position. 
     
     
       27. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the movable member comprises first elongated slots extending to the front end of the movable member, second elongated slots extending to the back end of the movable member, and a connecting portion disposed between the first and second elongated slots, whereby a width of the elongated first and second slots changes when the needle holding member is caused to move to the retracted position. 
     
     
       28. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the movable member comprises two-semi-cylindrical members which, when arranged to form a cylindrical member, form first elongated slots extending to the front end of the movable member, second elongated slots extending to the back end of the movable member, and a connecting portion disposed between the first and second elongated slots, whereby a width of the elongated first and second slots changes when the needle holding member is caused to move to the retracted position. 
     
     
       29. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the movable member comprises at least one elongated slot extending to the front end of the movable member and a tapered surface arranged at the front end of the movable member which is structured and arranged to engage a tapered surface inside the body to thereby cause the needle holding member to move to the retracted position. 
     
     
       30. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the movable member comprises at least two oppositely arranged slots extending to the front end of the movable member and a tapered surface arranged at the front end of the movable member which is structured and arranged to engage a tapered surface inside the body to thereby cause the needle holding member to move to the retracted position. 
     
     
       31. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the movable member comprises at least one slot extending to the front end of the movable member and the body comprises at least one projection having tapered surfaces which are structured and arranged to engage the at least one slot to thereby cause the needle holding member to move to the retracted position. 
     
     
       32. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the movable member comprises at least one slot arranged on the front end of the movable member and the body comprises at least one projection having tapered surfaces, and wherein the slot engages with the tapered surfaces, a width of the at least one slot changes to thereby cause the needle holding member to move to the retracted position. 
     
     
       33. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the movable member comprises at least two oppositely arranged slots arranged on the front end of the movable member and the body comprises at least two oppositely arranged projections each having tapered surfaces, and wherein each slot engages with each set of the tapered surfaces, a width of each slot changes to thereby cause radial expansion of the front end of the movable member. 
     
     
       34. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the movable member comprises at least one slot extending to the front end of the movable member and the body comprises at least one projection arranged in an inner cylindrical surface of the body between the front end and the back end of the body, and wherein the at least one slot comprises tapered surfaces structured and arranged to engage with the at least one projection, whereby a width of the at least one slot changes when the movable member moves axially within the body and when the tapered surfaces engage with the at least one projection. 
     
     
       35. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises at least one projection arranged in an inner cylindrical surface of the body between the front end and the back end of the body and wherein the at least one projection is structured and arranged to serve as an axle which allows portions of the movable member to pivot about the axle. 
     
     
       36. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises oppositely arranged projections arranged in an inner cylindrical surface of the body between the front end and the back end of the body and wherein each projection is structured and arranged to serve as an axle which allows portions of the movable member to pivot about the axle. 
     
     
       37. A retractable medical device comprising:
 a tubular body having a front end and a back end that is sized and configured to receive therein a fluid collection tube or an evacuated blood collection receptacle; 
 a movable sleeve arranged within the body, the movable sleeve having a back end and a front end; 
 the movable sleeve being sized and configured to at least partially receive therein one of the fluid collection tube and the evacuated blood collection receptacle; 
 a needle holding member comprising a centrally disposed opening for receiving a double-ended needle and being axially retained in an area of the front end of the movable sleeve; 
 a spring structured and arranged to move the needle holding member to a retracted position within the movable sleeve; and 
 a cap structured and arranged to close-off the back end of the tubular body, 
 wherein, when the cap is positioned to close-off the back end of the tubular body, at least one of:
 the movable sleeve experiences axial movement which participates in causing the front end of the movable sleeve to expand generally radially so as to allow the needle holding member to disengage from the front end of the movable sleeve and move to the retracted position; 
 the back end of the movable sleeve experiences radial contraction which causes the front end of the movable sleeve to expand generally radially so as to allow the needle holding member to disengage from the front end of the movable sleeve and move to the retracted position; 
 the back end of the movable sleeve experiences radial contraction which causes portions of the front end of the movable sleeve to pivot open so as to allow the needle holding member to disengage from the front end of the movable sleeve and move to the retracted position; 
 spaced apart portions of the front end of the movable sleeve are caused to expand outwardly so as to allow the needle holding member to disengage from the front end of the movable sleeve; 
 circumferential portions of the front end of the movable sleeve are caused to expand outwardly so as to allow the needle holding member to disengage from the front end of the movable sleeve; and 
 portions of the front end of the movable sleeve separated by slots are caused to expand outwardly so as to allow the needle holding member to disengage from the front end of the movable sleeve. 
 
 
     
     
       38. A single-use blood sampling device comprising:
 a tubular body having an open back end and a front end; 
 a sleeve arranged within the body, the sleeve having a back end and a front end; 
 the sleeve being sized and configured to at least partially receive therein one of a fluid collection tube and an evacuated blood collection receptacle; 
 a needle holding member comprising a centrally disposed opening for receiving a double-ended needle and being axially retained in an area of the front end of the sleeve; 
 a spring structured and arranged to move the needle holding member to a retracted position within the sleeve; and 
 a cap structured and arranged to close-off the back end of the tubular body, 
 wherein, when the cap is positioned to close-off the back end of the body, the needle holding member is automatically caused to move to the retracted position within the sleeve as a result of at least one of:
 the sleeve experiencing axial movement which participates in causing the front end of the sleeve to expand generally radially; 
 the back end of the sleeve experiencing radial contraction which causes the front end of the sleeve to expand generally radially; 
 the back end of the sleeve experiencing radial contraction which causes portions of the front end of the sleeve to pivot open; 
 spaced apart portions of the front end of the sleeve are caused to expand outwardly so as to allow the needle holding member to disengage from the front end of the sleeve; 
 circumferential portions of the front end of the sleeve are caused to expand outwardly so as to allow the needle holding member to disengage from the front end of the sleeve; and 
 portions of the front end of the sleeve separated by slots are caused to expand outwardly so as to allow the needle holding member to disengage from the front end of the sleeve. 
 
 
     
     
       39. A method of taking a fluid sample using the device of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 inserting a receptacle into the device; 
 removing the receptacle from the device; and 
 placing a cap onto the back end of the body to thereby cause the needle holding member to move to the retracted position. 
 
     
     
       40. A method of taking a fluid sample using the device of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 inserting a receptacle into the device; 
 removing the receptacle from the device; and 
 placing the cap onto the back end of the tubular body to thereby cause the needle holding member to move to the retracted position. 
 
     
     
       41. A method of taking a fluid sample using the device of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 inserting a receptacle into the device; 
 removing the receptacle from the device; and 
 placing the cap onto the back end of the tubular body to thereby cause the needle holding member to move to the retracted position. 
 
     
     
       42. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a releasable connection mechanism structured and arranged to releasably connect the needle holding member to the movable member. 
     
     
       43. The device of  claim 42 , wherein the releasable connection mechanism comprises at least one projection and at least one recess. 
     
     
       44. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the needle holding member is frictionally disengagable from the movable member when the front end of the movable member expands generally radially.